This is a wild and weird fic that was inspired by another author. If you don't like the pairing 4xR…well, don't worry, it won't last forever. In fact, that's part of this whole chaotic mess that I have happened to call a fanfiction. WARNING! There are ORIGINAL CHARACTERS in this fic. I happen to be quite proud of the depth that I've managed to give my OCs. However, most of the original GW cast will be in there, so don't worry too much about that, okay? One more thing: This is a NON-YAOI fic. I'm not against yaoi, but I think I'd prefer the pilots straight for this fic.

Disclaimer: Gundam Wing, with all it's sexy, sexy men, isn't mine. Blast it all.

Grand Prize Winner (pun intended)

"He's marrying who?!" Duo Maxwell shouted. His question hadn't really been directed at anyone, but several heads turned in his direction anyway. Duo was beyond caring, however, as he skimmed the newspaper article plastered to the front of a newsstand. Muttering to himself and shaking his head in disbelief, he tossed down money for the paper, forgot to get his change, and wandered back to his apartment building in a complete and utter daze.

The paper article simply couldn't be true. There was no possible, conceivable way that the words in front of him made sense. And yet there was a picture of Quatre Raberba Winner to accompany the article, and a quote adding that the rumors were, indeed, correct. End quote.

He was grateful to Quatre. Quatre had saved his life during the wars on several occasions, offered him a job until he broke into the acting career successfully, and even helped him buy his first real apartment. The way Duo saw it was simple: he owed Quatre his life, several times over. Quatre, he knew, would never see it that way. He didn't like having people "owe him" anything. Being a mutikazillion-aire might have something to do with that, but either way, Quatre asked only for Duo's friendship in return.

Hell, if Quatre asked, Duo would be his slave. For a month maybe.

He shook his head and turned back to the article. It read, in its damning bold, black, courier-new font, "Winner-Peacecraft Union! The Marriage of the Century!" And below that, in a smaller version of the same font, were the details: Quatre Raberba Winner and Relena Peacecraft were to be wed in seven and a half months in the heart of July, at the Peacecraft mansion.

"What the hell is he thinking?" Duo wondered aloud. He sighed as he thought of Relena. She was pretty enough, but perhaps a little too hung up on Heero-I've-got-a-stick-up-my-ass-Yuy. And Quatre had never shown any interest whatsoever besides a professional one. She certainly wasn't his type, especially now, with Quatre's twenty-first birthday coming up in two months. He'd changed from the pink-shirt-wearing kid that had survived the war, He was grown up now, and spent most of his time in business suites, in the office, having vid-conference meetings with people from the colonies or Earth.

Well, Heero must be thankful, Duo thought with a grin, remembering the look in the assassin's eyes whenever they heard that cursed shout of "Heeeeeerrrroooo!" True, he felt bad for Quatre, but he felt relieved for Heero, who had finally settled down and bought an apartment with an actual address. It was progress.

Duo was still chuckling when he heard the sound of keys and the door opening. He turned to grin at his roommate, who was struggling with bags at the moment.

"Hey, you," he called as he rose to take some of the bags.

"Hi, Duo. What's got you smiling so wide, eh?"

Angel Tsuiraku was heaven on legs, literally. Every time he heard that song (he was a true Metallica fan all the way), he thought of her. She was five-two at her tallest, with the prettiest legs he'd ever seen, and the most adorable face he'd ever gazed upon. With the exception of Hilde, of course. Her long, golden tresses of hair fell in waves to just past her shoulders. And her eyes were an intriguing mix of midnight blue and silver.

"Oh, just remembering things about Heero. Hey, have you seen the paper?" he asked as he helped her carry her bags to the table. She nodded and began pulling out clothes—which included a kick-ass leather jacket for him. He watched as she quickly folded them into neat, concise piles.

"Yeah, something about a rich guy marrying the ex-Queen of the World." She shrugged. "Yay for them. Now they'll be bigillion-aires."

Duo almost couldn't suppress his laughter. She had the same attitude he would have had he not known Quatre personally. He led her to the couch.

"Quatre is the rich guy. He's an old friend of mine. Saved my life a couple times during the war, in fact. Anyway, the point is, can you believe it? Of all people…I mean, it's Quatre, he has no interest whatsoever in her."

Angel raised a brow at him, failing to see the point. "Duo, sometimes people get married without being in love, or even in lust. Especially if they're of Arabian background."

"Not Quatre. He's like…you know those 'prince charming's from movies? He's one of those. Totally in agreement with the whole 'true love' thing," Duo informed her. Angel shot him an amused glance.

"So he's gay?"

"NO!"

But, in spite of himself, Duo laughed. Quatre certainly wasn't gay, and he knew that Angel knew that. It was just one of those things about her that made her a thoroughly enjoyable person. She had a great sense of humor.

He'd met her on the set of a movie, and he just like the rest of the male cast, had fallen for her. He knew he'd never leave Hilde, but it was close there for a while. She quickly became his best friend, and when she had come to him in need, his roommate. She adored Hilde and he secretly suspected that they were planning his own wedding, honeymoon, kids, and house.

"Okay, so he's not gay, he's rich, and if he looks like that—" she gestured to the paper— "women are probably throwing themselves at his feet in order to join his harem. So why's he marrying Peacecraft?"

"That's what I want to know. And I certainly don't want them to get married. This, my dear, is where you come in," he informed her.

"Me?!" she asked, eyes widening. Duo winked at her.

"You're single, right? And he'd like you. I don't want you to seduce him or anything—"

"Thank God for small miracles," she tossed in.

"—but I do want you to become a friend and confidant. And if he ends up falling for you and dumping Queeny, that's perfect—I mean, that's great…er…yeah." Duo smiled triumphantly.

"I don't think Quatre Raberba Winner's going to 'fall for' me," Angel stated firmly. "Gosh, you're so…nosey. You can't just leave the guy alone, can you?"

Duo smiled. "Nope, this is just one pal looking out for another. I'm practically saving his life, here. Listen, no worries. Just get close to him."

"Why can't you do that?" she asked.

"He'll get mad at me. And he won't take me seriously. But you're a girl, and a pretty one at that. He should open up to you eventually," he replied with confidence.

"If you're trying to play matchmaker, I'm calling Hilde and I'll have her hang you by your braid."

Duo gulped and smiled weakly. "Don't worry. My plan calls for nothing more than friendship."

She eyed him, still suspicious. "I'll bet."

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Relena Peacecraft Darlain read the article and nodded in approval. It was simple and accurate, and it left out all of the unattractive formalities of her marriage-to-be. She set the paper down carefully and glanced around the room. She was reluctant to leave this place, for it had quickly become her home. She had been born here, then torn away, and had finally returned only five years ago. Now, at twenty years old, Relena had grown from the pacifist girl with stars in her eyes. She was marrying an ex-Gundam pilot. Sure, he wasn't the one she'd intended to marry, but it made little difference. This marriage would benefit the commonwealth of Earth and the colonies; Quatre being a native of the L-4 colony cluster, and Relena herself being born of the Cinq (A/N: Sanc if you prefer it) Kingdom on Earth.

Quatre had wanted a small wedding, or at least that was in the letter she'd received from him. Relena, however, felt it important that they remain in the public eye, so the people would get the impression that they were normal, caring individuals that would look out for them. So Quatre's small wedding had gone out of the window. The press would cover their marriage, and the guest list was now nearing five hundred individuals. Quatre, however unhappy with this, had bowed gracefully to her wishes after seeing their practicality, and gone back to his paperwork.

Relena herself felt no love for the head of the Winner empire. He was polite, kind, and thoughtful, on top of incredibly attractive now that he'd matured, but she wasn't interested in him. He would keep her safe and allow her to continue her easy, luxurious lifestyle, but there was no excitement in their relationship. She didn't wait for him to come home, didn't pine after him all day, and he wasn't in her dreams at night. No, those areas were reserved for one man and one man alone.

Unfortunately, that man was taken. For some odd reason or another, he'd fallen for some Japanese woman and was now courting her from his tiny apartment. She'd come to accept the fact that her knight in shining armor had only been fulfilling his duties when he'd saved her, and didn't really feel any emotional attachment. This, however, no longer worried her. She and Quatre would soon be wed and then would continue their lives as normal, he in his office and she on the political front. Their name, and occasionally their bed, would be the only thing they would share, and that was fine with Relena. She didn't need to see the world through rose-tinted glasses anymore.

Besides, it wasn't like Quatre was completely repulsive. He worked out two or three times a week, and his eyes were a very intense blue. He was handsome, charming. He just wasn't…

Her type.

She smiled at the thought of what her female friends would think of that. She could practically hear the chorus of, "What do you mean, 'he's not my type?!' Are you insane?!"

Must be, she decided with a nod, and laughed out loud as she rose from her desk to meet an associate for lunch.

© © ©

"Quatre," came the disapproving tone the minute he picked up his phone and clicked it to line two. It was amazing, but that one word—his name—was all it took to convince Quatre that Trowa Barton was upset with him. Quatre resolved himself to a silent lecture on Trowa's part and proceeded to drag a hand through his already tussled blonde hair.

"Good afternoon, Trowa. It's nice to hear from you," he said, already knowing where the conversation was heading. Trowa himself had married last year to a particularly charming young girl named Kathleen. It was so close to "Catherine" that Quatre had suspected at first, but upon meeting Kathleen at the marriage, he decided that she and Catherine were as different as fire and water.

"You're marrying Relena." It wasn't a question. Quatre sighed and nodded, though he knew Trowa couldn't see him.

"Yes."

"Do you love her?"

"No."

"Then?"

"It's a marriage of convenience."

"I see."

"Listen, Trowa, I'll call you later tonight and we'll talk about it more. I've got a meeting, though, so…"

"Right. Bye."

And then dial tone. Quatre placed his phone back on its hook and sighed again. He collected his notes and stood to reach for his briefcase. He was so weary that he doubted he could make it through the meeting, and his concentration was shot. It had been a nightmare from the beginning, when he'd first asked Relena to marry him. She'd said yes, it was all very civil and not very romantic, and then she'd gone off to work. No fireworks, no confessions of love, no happiness and relief now that he'd finally asked her. Just…nothing. It was going to happen. Hurrah for them, now get back to work. He could picture it clearly; they'd rarely stay in the same house, they'd rarely sleep beside each other, much less with each other, and the whole thing would be a huge try on their patience. True, he and Relena were friends, but marriage didn't work when you were mere acquaintances. Even when based on a solid friendship, marriage didn't always work.

Suddenly, he realized how miserable his life would be. And his child, the child he was determined to have, would be born into that. He had to decide what to do. He couldn't bring a child into that misery. However he had little choice being the only male in the Winner family. He knew the pain of a broken family, and yet he was considering succumbing a child, his own child, to that same pain. He lowered his head and walked briskly to his meeting. There was little he could do about the situation at the moment, anyway. He would just have to have faith that he and Relena could work something out.

© © ©

Please review if you've read this far! I really enjoy hearing from everyone. I know it's a slow start, but the zani-ness will happen soon. Plus, chapter two will feature more about the other characters as well, like Dorothy, Heero, Cathy, and Hilde. Thank you for reading this! I truly hope you liked it.

*Angel